Port wine sampler and melon prosciutto pairing at B421, Yongsan

This is a bar near Sukdaeipgu Station where the port wine sampler and the fruit cheese and melon prosciutto were seriously good. My girlfriend and I stopped by this atmospheric spot in Namyeong-dong not long ago. After dinner and the fireworks festival eve preview, we spent a while debating where to go next, and that's when we found B421 — a wine bar near Yongsan/Namyeong-dong known for its wine, whiskey, and bar snack pairings. We headed straight there.

What's the vibe like at B421

The moment we walked in, the warm, calm interior really caught my eye. The cozy layout centered around a bar table, the mood lighting, and the wine glasses lined up neatly near the ceiling all came together beautifully. It felt like a perfect spot for solo drinking, a date with a partner, or a quiet catch-up with an old friend — honestly hard to beat.

That day we ordered the Cockburn's Reserva sampler (port wine) that caught our eye, plus two of the best wine snacks to go with it — fruit-flavored cheese & crackers and melon prosciutto. Let me walk through each one honestly! Check the photos for the full menu and prices.

Port wine by the glass: the Cockburn's Reserva sampler

At a wine bar you're always stuck deciding which bottle to order, but here you can enjoy port wine by the glass, and the sampler menu lets you taste a whole lineup in small pours — really well put together.

🍷 Cockburn's Reserva sampler lineup (5 wines total, 30ml each)

The Cockburn's Reserva sampler we picked came out as five different port wines, each neatly labeled on a pretty wooden tray. They're served in fine Glencairn glasses, which were excellent for gathering the aromas.

• Cockburn's Reserva Ruby (19.5%): Ruby port blends young wines and ages 2–3 years in stainless steel to prevent oxidation. Intense fresh, sweet red fruit filled the mouth along with the signature heavy body of port wine.
• Cockburn's Reserva Tawny (19.5%): A blend of several vintage wines aged 4–5 years in oak barrels to encourage oxidation. Slightly more transparent in color than the ruby, with a gentle oak aroma and a long, savory finish of orange and nuts.
• Cockburn's Dry White (19.5%): This glass stood out for the crisp, fresh character typical of white port. Moderate sweetness with a clean finish made it perfect as an aperitif or with a light snack.
• Cockburn's 10 Year Tawny (19.5%): A refined wine aged 10 years in oak. Noticeably deeper maturity than the standard Reserva line, with dried fruit, vanilla, caramel, and nuts all blending intriguingly — the smoothness on the palate was something else.
• Cockburn's 10 Year White (19.5%): A white port aged 10 years in oak, where the fruity aroma typical of white wine is joined by a deep, refined flavor drawn from the barrel — unique and sophisticated.

Tasting all five wines in order at our own pace and comparing the differences in flavor and aroma was a joy in itself!

What exactly is port wine

According to the menu's description, port wine is Portugal's signature sweet fortified wine, originating from early winemakers adding brandy to prevent fermenting wine from spoiling. Adding high-proof brandy partway through fermentation deactivates the yeast, so the wine's natural sweet sugars remain, and the final alcohol content ends up around 20%, higher than regular wine. Its hallmark is the way brandy's deep aroma blends with the savory character of dried nuts.

Melon prosciutto: sweet-and-salty balance with the port

Port wine's sweet, heavy character really calls for a salty, fresh snack alongside it, so the first dish we tried was the classic wine bar snack: melon prosciutto.

The melon prosciutto arrived as pictured — juicy, well-ripened melon slices piled generously with thinly sliced Spanish/Italian-style prosciutto. Grated cheese powder was snowed on top, and it was delicious.

The cool, sweet juice of the melon, the salty umami of the prosciutto, and the savory cheese powder all came together for a perfect sweet-and-salty balance — really good.

Fruit-flavored cheese & crackers

The second snack was a real showstopper, both visually and in flavor: the fruit-flavored cheese & crackers. On a long wooden tray, crisp, plain crackers were lined up in a row, with generous chunks of several kinds of handmade cheese beside them. If you look closely at the photos, you'll see each cheese has different mix-ins, so you get a variety of flavors.

• Dried fruit cream cheese: Packed with dried raspberries, dried blueberries, and chunky dried apricots, every bite gave a chewy fruit texture and a fresh, sweet flavor that blended fantastically with the creamy cheese.

• Herb & spice cheese: Alongside the fruit cheeses, there was also a savory cheese with a subtle parsley and herb aroma, so there was always something new to try without getting bored.

Grab a cracker, pile on your favorite cheese, and pop it in your mouth — the crunch of the cracker, the creaminess of the cheese, and the sweetness of the fruit all came together, and it went really well with the port wine.

Cocktail, whiskey, and craft beer lineup

• Signature cocktails: Namyeong-dong Gentleman (21.0), O.P 421 (21.0), Namyeong-dong Lady (21.0)
• Classic cocktails: whiskey & brandy-based (Old Fashioned, Boulevardier, Whiskey Sour, etc.), gin-based (Negroni, Gimlet, White Lady, etc.), plus martinis, vodka, rum, tequila, and liqueur cocktails, all thoughtfully organized by category
• Whiskey lineup (Single Malt & Blended): renowned single malts like Glenfiddich (12Y, 15Y, 18Y), Balvenie 14Y, Dalmore, Glenallachie, Macallan, Glendronach, Lagavulin, Ardbeg, and Laphroaig, sold by 30ml, 50ml, or bottle. Blended whiskeys like the Johnnie Walker series and Monkey Shoulder are also available.
• Craft beer (Magpie Brewing Co.): pale ale, IPA, porter (dark beer), and Ghost gose from Jeju's own pride, Magpie Brewing

In short

This was more than just a place to drink — it was a top-tier atmospheric wine bar where you can fully enjoy high-quality drinks paired thoughtfully with great snacks, all in a great mood. If you're new to port wine or want to try a variety, I strongly recommend the Cockburn's Reserva sampler, and I'll leave you with how well the fruit cheese & crackers and melon prosciutto worked alongside it!